Summer Reading Book Reports for Incoming Middle School Students
Somerset Academy Miramar Middle School believes that reading during the summer months can
help students greatly sharpen their reading comprehension skills as well as increase retention of
the literary skills learned throughout the previous school year.
This summer, students will complete ONE book report based on ONE of their selected books,
choosing from three possible report formats (listed below). Each book report must follow the
guidelines set forth in the rubric designated for each report. The book report must be completed
by August 25th, 2014. This form must be attached to the book report upon submission.
Students, please initial next to your preferred option:
_____ Option #1
Letter to Producer
Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a
best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to convince that person interested in
making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, events, conflicts, and
challenges would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and the actors to play the
various roles. You may only use books that are on your summer reading list and have not
already been produced into movies. Appropriate fonts include Arial, Calibri, Century, Times
New Roman – all in 12 point.
Possible
Points
20
20
20
20
10
10
Total
Assignment
Explain why the characters would be great for the film. Include
at least 2 characters with at least 3 reasons for each. Include
real life actors who would portray these characters and reasons
why.
Explain why this story has a great plot that could be made into a
film. Think about the parts of the plot when writing this.
Explain why this story’s conflict(s) would be great for film. Think
about the 3 different kinds of conflict and how they would be
transferred to a film.
Pick at least 4 different locations for the filming of this movie.
Write at least two sentences describing why they would be
appropriate for the film.
You have correct letter format that is persuasively written and
presented orally. (The letter should be single spaced. Minimum 1
½ pages, no more than 2 pages)
The report is free of grammatical errors.
Points
Earned
/20
/20
/20
/20
/10
/10
/100
_____ Option #2
Front Page Newspaper
Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover the weather in
another, do a feature story on one of the more interesting characters in another. Include an
editorial and a collection of ads that would be pertinent to the story. Appropriate fonts include
Arial, Calibri, Century, Times Roman – all in 12 point.
Possible
Points
20
20
20
20
10
10
Total
Assignment
Article 1: Summarize the book in 5 short paragraphs (at least 5
sentences each)
Article 2: Write a feature story on at least 2 of the main
characters. Include descriptive details about their appearance
and their role in the novel. (at least 4 short paragraphs)
Article 3: Write about the setting of the novel (including the
weather) as a travel destination. Be very descriptive (about 2 –
3 short paragraphs).
Create at least 4 small ads that are relevant to the story.
Presentation
The report is free of grammatical errors.
Points
Earned
/20
/20
/20
/20
/10
/10
/100
_____ Option #3
Book Trailer - PowerPoint
Using Microsoft PowerPoint, create an 8 – 15 page presentation that serves as the trailer for your
book. As with trailers shown on television, you cannot give away the ending. Simply present
enough information to make potential readers interested in the novel. Each slide must contain
images or backgrounds that are appropriate to your novel. Each slide must also contain a detailed
caption explaining what’s happening in the scene, what the characters are saying to each other, or
what the voice-over narrator is saying about the scene during the trailer. (Voice overs are
permitted, but the text also needs to be on the slide). The captions should be typed using
appropriate fonts which may include Arial, Calibri, Century or Times Roman, 14 font.
Possible Points
40
40
10
10
Total
Assignment
8 to 15 detailed and creative images depicting significant events in
the book
Detailed captions that accurately describe the images. Each caption
should be written in one paragraph and included below each of the
illustrations.
Presentation (Be prepared to present your PowerPoint to the class.)
The report is free of grammatical errors
Points
Earned
/40
/40
/10
/10
/100